Apron with interchangeable applique



Dec. i3, 1955 $T|RTQN 2,726,397

APRON WITH INTERCHANGEABLE APPLIQUE Filed May 8, 1952 f/YVEl/Tfiff MARGUfR/TE A. ST ATo/v WWW/4% ATTORNEYS APRON WITH INTERCHANGEABLE APPLIQUE Marguerite A. Stirton, Oak Park, Ill. Application May 8, 1952, Serial No. 286,673

2 Claims. 01. 2--48) This invention relates to an interchangeable applique for clothing, coverings and the like.

Often such persons as housewives and hostesses desire to decorate articles of clothing, curtains, coverings and so forth with figures and designs of various shape and color. Ordinarily, such decoration is achieved by painting, embroidering or otherwise permanently attaching some form of decoration to the basic article. When either the design or the background substance of the article becomes worn or soiled, the article must be discarded or treated accordingly as a unit. In some instances it may be possible to remove the portion of the article containing the design by ripping out connecting stitching which removal becomes a laborious and unsatisfactory method of treatment. When it becomes necessary for dry cleaners and launderers to so treat a decorated article, an extra charge must be made for the removal, cleaning and refasteniug thereof.

Furthermore, when such decoration becomes a part of an article of clothing, covering and the like, there is no flexibility in the novelty and decorative appearance of the article except through such expedient as dyeing it a different color. Obviously, this is an expensive treatment and does not adapt itself to frequent changes.

Insofar as I am aware there is no decorative device in the nature of an applique which can be applied to a multiplicity of articles, even of varying types, which will lend beauty and novelty to the appearance of the articles and which may be completely removed or interchanged by the simplest of acts on the part of the operator.

It is therefore a principal object of this invention to provide for an efficient and simple interchangeable applique in combination with a flexible support which may be attached by means of simple fastening means to any of a number of preselected positions upon one or more articles of clothing or coverings, detached therefrom or exchanged with another applique. The applique when in fastened position will present an attractive appearance with the edges thereof in relief against the background of the article and no unsightly outline or other visible evidence of the fastening means.

It is another object of the invention to provide for a unique and inexpensive device in the nature of an applique for attachment to special articles such as hostess aprons, upholstery and so forth which will create a large variety of combinations for purely decorative purposes or for special significance such as the commemoration of festive occasions, for example Christmas, St. Valen tines Day, St. Patricks Day and Independence Day.

It is a further object of the invention to provide for an appliqued article of clothing such as an apron which has as a cooperative portion thereof, an additional protective covering to act as a shield for the appliques them selves as well as for the apron to which they are attached.

More specifically, it is a still further object of the invention to provide for an interchangeable applique conversion set wherein articles of clothing and coverings prepared with fastening elements at predetermined positions United States Patent may be decoratively converted through simple connection with cooperative fastening means on each applique of the set from normal everyday usage into combinative articles for general decoration or for decoration on festive occasions.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a specific embodiment of my interchangeable applique as used in conjunction with a multiple purpose apron having two covering sheet por tions in operative relation;

Fig. 2 is a front view of my shield or second sheet covering portion unattached;

Fig. 3 is a front view of my decorative apron showing the first decorative sheet portion alone and a portion of the appliques attached;

Fig. 4 is a segmental view of the upper band portion of my double apron showing the shield or second sheet portion attached thereto and folded behind for decorative purposes;

Fig. 5 is a segmental view of the same portion of my double apron as shown in Fig. 4 with the shield folded forwardly to overlie the decorative sheet portion for protective purposes;

Fig. 6 is a rear view of a representative applique;

Fig. 7 is an edge view of the applique taken in the direction of arrows 7-7 in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a separate view of the fastener mounting together with its cooperating fastener; and

Fig. 9 is an edge view of the fastener mounting taken in the direction of arrows 9-9 in Fig. 8.

An illustrative embodiment of my invention is the form of multiple purpose hostess apron bearing the interchangeable appliques as illustrated in the drawing.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, Fig. 1 shows my complete multiple purpose apron together with a set of appliques attached thereto. The decorative sheet portion of my apron is shown singly in Fig. 3 and constitutes generally a piece of sheet material such as cloth of the type including tulle, taffeta, crisp cottons and nets forming an area indicated generally by the letter C for the purpose of becoming a part of the decorative apparel of waitresses, hostesses and the like. The lower portion of the area C is doubled to form a hem 10 and is sewn at a stitch line 11 which is generally coincident with a stiffened area such as supporting sheet or band 12. The supporting band has an area small in comparison to the total area of the decorative sheet, but is of importance in that it forms a background for firm attachment of cooperating fasteners exemplified by snap fastener 13 in Fig. 3. At the upper portion of the decorative sheet C the material is doubled over in another narrower hem 14 which is secured as by stitching to a belt 15, said area of attachment forming another supporting band or stiffened area 16. A plurality of cooperating fastener elements 17 may likewise be secured in spaced relation along the band area 16. The belt 15 may extend to either side of the apron to form strings 18 which may be used for tying about the waist of the wearer in a manner well known in the art. The spaced sets of fasteners 13 and 17 do not detract from the decorative appearance of sheet portion C when allowed to be exposed to view. When, however, it is desired to attach appliques such as Christmas trees 19 in Fig. 3 or hearts 20 as shown in Fig. l and Fig. 6, the cooperating fastener element on the applique is snapped or otherwise secured to the spaced fastener elements 13 and 17 on the respective supporting bands 12 and 16 on the decorative sheet. A number of sets of appliques may be used in connection with the decorative sheet depending upon their timeliness in connection with festive occasions.

The appliques themselves appear in Figs. 6 and 7 and are exemplified by the heart structure 20 which is suitable for use on or about St. Valentines Day. The appliques may be formed from any suitable material having an area to which a mounting may be attached, it being particularly desirable to have none of the fastening, mounting or other supporting structure appearing at the faceof the applique. Thus, I prefer to form separately a mount 21 such as shown in Fig. 8 having a cooperating fastener element 22 sewn or otherwise secured thereto and, in turn, attached to the rear or hidden face of the applique 20 as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. I find that a mount having thermoplastic substance at the face thereof is especially useful since, after applying the fastener element 22, the entire assembly may be easily and quickly formed by heating and pressing to the rear or hidden face of applique 20 so as to become firmly attached thereto. In this form no portion of the fastener or mounting appears at the face 23 of the applique 20 as shown in Fig. 7.

Since the delicately formed decorative sheet portion C is expensive and difficult to clean I have provided a second sheet portion or shield S which is shown in its entirety in Fig. 2. I prefer that the area and configuration of the shield S be substantially the same or slightly larger than the area of the first sheet portion C. The shield S may be formed from sheet material such as polyethylene which is resistant to ordinary chemical action and may be easily washed for re-use whenever desired. The upper portion of the shield S is preferably doubled to form a hem 24 which may be sewn at stitch lines 25. Tabs 26 are attached to the hem portion 24 in spaced relation to coincide with the fasteners 17 on the decorative apron band 16. Cooperative fastening elements 27 are secured to the backs of tabs 26 as shown in Fig. 2 and these fasteners may be united with the fasteners 17 to form fastening means securing the shield S to the first sheet portion C of the decorative apron. Each tab 26 may be folded over the band 16 even while the apron is being worn by the user. When thus secured in place the appearance of the fastening means, together with the double apron, is that shown in Fig. when viewed from the rear. Where it is desired to leave the protective shield S fastened to the band 16 but at the same time to utilize the decorative appearance of the apron the wearer may remove the double apron, fiip over the protective shield from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 4 and again tie the double apron in place. The protective shield 5 may be colored such as with pastel shades to form a colored background for the open mesh or net of first sheet C. The wearer may, of course, remove the protective shield S entirely when so desired leaving the multiple purpose apron in the form shown in Fig. 3. It will be noted that the appliques having once been attached may be left in position regardless of the attachment and use of the protective shield S.

It may thus be seen that I have devised an extremely useful, economical and attractive decorative device which has cooperative use as a sturdy and practical interchangeable applique for easy attachment at preselected positions upon articles of clothing, coverings and the like. The circumstances under which my interchangeable applique can be employed are so varied and flexible as to include articles of clothing such as the hostess apron illustrated in the foregoing specification and even articles of household furnishing such as draperies. It is understood that the fasteners predisposed on any of a number of such articles are adapted to fit the hidden cooperative fastener element at the rear face of any of my interchangeable appliques so as to constitute a self-contained fastener structure.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts without departing from the scope of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a double apron having decorative and protective properties a first portion constructed of sheet material such as cloth of a thin and delicate type including tulle, taffeta, crisp cottons and nets with pleasing esthetic appearance said first sheet portion having an applique releasably secured in a preselected position thereupon and having a belt extending across the upper edge thereof to form a firm upper band therefor and extending laterally to each side to form free ends for securing together while encompassing the waist of a wearer, a second sheet portion for protection of the wearers clothing and said first sheet portion together with applique thereon against soiling thereof said second sheet portion having a configuration substantially coextensive with that of said first sheet portion and fastening means at said upper band of said first sheet portion for releasably securing thereto said second sheet portion with the area of said second sheet portion closely overlying said first sheet portion.

2. In a double apron having decorative and protective properties, a first portion constructed of sheet material such as cloth of a thin and delicate type including tulle, taffeta, crisp cottons and nets with pleasing esthetic appearance, said first sheet portion having a plurality of appliques releasably secured in preselected spaced relations thereupon and having a belt extending transversely thereof to form a firm band therefor and having extensions respectively at each side of said sheet to form free ends for securing together while encompassing the waist of a wearer, a second sheet portion for protection of the wearers clothing and of said first sheet portion together with said plurality of appliques thereon, said second sheet portion having a configuration substantially coextensive with that of said first sheet portion and cooperative fastening means interposed between said transverse band on said first sheet portion and said second sheet portion for releasably securing in closely overlying relation the second sheet portion with respect to said first sheet portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 155,723 Mattison Oct. 25, 1949 824,444 Schurek June 26, 1906 1,165,538 Pellant Dec. 28, 1915 2,075,060 Roseman Mar. 30, 1937 2,275,579 Yanes Mar. 10, 1942 2,336,192 Rouse Dec. 7, 1943 2,457,309 Joyce Dec. 28, 1948 2,551,907 Serebrin May 8, 1951 2,568,421 Van Staagen Sept. 18, 1951 2,582,699 Jelasco et al. Jan. 15, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 221,532 Germany June 30, 1909 12,858 Great Britain Oct. 12, 1905 

